PROBLEMS! TITE HAS LOSS TO CLIMB FLAMENGO IN LIBERTADORES

The Sinergia Rubro-Negra Group (SRN), made up of influential partners from Flamengo, held a meeting last Saturday (7), at the club's headquarters, located in Gávea. The main objective of the meeting was to promote fraternization among the participants, but, inevitably, club politics ended up dominating the discussions throughout the event.

The main topic that emerged during the meeting was the support of the SRN to Rodrigo Dunshee's candidacy for president of Flamengo. Dunshee, who currently holds the position of general and legal vice-president of the club, is a prominent figure in the red-black political scene. The group, made up of members who share an aligned vision regarding the club's management, sees in Dunshee a name prepared to take over Flamengo's leadership, especially considering the upcoming electoral cycle.

During the event, members of the SRN highlighted Dunshee's role in the current administration, remembering that he was a fundamental player in several legal achievements of the Flamengo in recent years. The group believes that his experience and proximity to the club's internal processes make him the ideal candidate to succeed current president Rodolfo Landim, whose tenure ends at the end of his term. 

Although the initial objective of the meeting was a celebration between the partners, it was inevitable that the conversations turned to Flamengo's political future. The club's presidential elections are approaching, and political groups are already beginning to articulate support and strategies. The SRN, being a strong group within the red-black political structure, has stood out for its organization and capacity to mobilize members.

Those present discussed, among other topics, the possible implications of a possible Dunshee's candidacy. His name has been circulating among members for some time, but now, with the explicit support of the SRN, his candidacy is gaining strength. The members highlighted that Dunshee is a name of continuity, someone who is already part of the current management and deeply knows the challenges and needs of the club. This, in the group's view, represents a positive point, as Dunshee could continue the projects started under the Landim administration.

Flamengo continues to debate whether to look for a replacement for Pedro, a striker who is recovering from an injury. The decision is complex, involving several variables ranging from the financial cost to the availability of players on the market. One of the main points under discussion is the high cost of a possible replacement. The club is aware that signing a center forward may require a significant investment, something that needs to be carefully evaluated within the team's current budget.

In addition, Flamengofaces the challenge of downtime of players available on the market. Many of the center forwards who are free for transfer come from long periods without playing, with recent injuries or prolonged absence from the field. This situation represents a risk, as the integration of a player who is not in the rhythm of the game may take longer and be less effective initially.

The club is also considering the limited number of viable options on the market. The scarcity of attackers who meet the criteria required by Flamengo – both in terms of quality and physical readiness – is a factor that further complicates the search for a suitable replacement. 

In this scenario, the management of Flamengo assesses whether signing a new player is the best solution or whether there are viable alternatives to deal with Pedro's absence, such as adjusting the tactical formation or promoting youth players. The final decision is still being studied, and the club needs to carefully consider all aspects before making a decision.

Flamengo took the field on Thursday night to face two opponents. In this sense, Tite's men had Bolívar and altitude as opponents. With the 2-0 score at Maracanã last week, the red and black team could lose by up to 1 goal difference, and would still be able to qualify for the quarter-finals. In this sense, that's what ended up happening in La Paz, as the red-and-black team from Rio was defeated 1x0, apart from the struggle at the end of the match.

Flamengo at the beginning of the match, abusing plays on the sides with crosses into the area. However, Flamengo's defense got the better of it with Fabrício Bruno and Léo Pereira in the area. Wingers Bruno Sávio and Ramiro Vaca were Bolívar's most dangerous players, but the moves they made did not have a happy ending with Oviedo and Fábio Gomes in the area . Rossi was little required, with only two more laborious saves.

Flamengo had a great chance, in the 16th minute, with Gerson. The midfielder received a pass from De La Cruz, but tried to dribble past goalkeeper Lampe and missed the opportunity to open the scoring.

In the second stage, the scenario remained practically the same, except that Bolívar opened the scoring right at the beginning of the stage. At 11 minutes, Fábio Gomes passes a beautiful cross from midfield to Bruno Sávio, and the attacker attacks Ayrton Lucas' back to score with a header. The goal encouraged the Bolivians, who needed one more to at least take the decision to Penalties.

Tite decided to change the team, but ended up bringing the Bolivians even more, with 20 minutes remaining before the end of the match . However, the red and black team "knew how to suffer" and with the 1-0 score maintained, they returned to Rio with a place in the quarter-finals.

Even with the defeat, Flamengo qualified for the quarter-finals of the Libertadores by 2-1 on aggregate. In the quarterfinals, the red and black team faces Peñarol, from Uruguay. However, Fla now needs to turn the key back to the Brazilian championship.

Tite's men welcome Bragantino to Maracanã. The confrontation against São Paulo will take place next Sunday, at 8 pm (Brasília time). The red-black team has 41 points, five less than leader Botafogo.